Sunday. June 30, 2013

Progress Report: - The first row of concrete blocks for the basement has been laid and pea gravel has been added around the base of the basement too. The building site was considerably drier today so I got a much better look-see. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)

After the concrete has been poured, it must set for three or four days to harden before any further construction can happen. The concrete blocks are on site now to build the basement walls and the walls for the crawl space. After those have set and hardened, three inches of concrete will be poured for the crawl space. 

The outside of the basement walls will be 'painted' to prevent water seeping into the basement when finished. That water-proofing coating is on site now too. Drain tiles, more pea gravel, and finally sand will be added around the basement walls. One or maybe two tile lines will be extended from the basement to the ravine to draw water away from the house using gravity; pumps will not be necessary.

Clair is going to have the grass over the septic field mowed; passing through that field to get forth and back from the pole barn to the building site has been problematic. He will also have an electrician run a line from the new circuit breaker box in the west half of the pole barn to the building site.

John and Ron, the men who dug the foundation, are going to remove more topsoil from the future driveway site and replace it with something that will provide more support for trucks arriving with building materials. They've been getting stuck in the soft soil - made softer still by all the rain we've been having this year - normal rainfall for June is about 2 - 2.5 inches. This year we've had close to 6 inches.

John and Ron are going to pull at least two more stumps from the east field abutting the ravine. I hope they remove the stumps from the site. They are also looking at how to reduce or prevent further erosion in the ravine; they are going to fix the septic field for the pole barn - eventually.

Last week I somehow threw out my lower back and was in a lot of pain; could hardly move. Fortunately I was well enough this morning to be able to drive up today to see progress. Funny- - - I don't remember it taking so long to heal when I was younger (ha!).

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Jennifer Sander's Icelandic Sheepdog Lee was shown today at the Lima Kennel Club show in Lima, Ohio by Nicki King and Kayla Bruner and took Best of Breed three days in a row and got a Group Three today under Judge Richard Lewis. Austin earned a Group Two.

Left to right: Nicki King, Lee, Austin, Kayla Bruner. Austin's tongue is visible; Austin - not so much!

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This is from the earlier show under AKC Judge Jon Cole when Lee got a Group Three. 

Lee has been getting a lot of Group placements this spring and summer! Good job Nicki!! I may be slightly biased (wink, wink) but I think Lee is an excellent typey Icelandic Sheepdog.